Dubai’s MBC: “No plans for 4K”

Dubai-based MBC, perhaps the most important commercial broadcaster in the MENA region, says it has no plans for 4K broadcasting.

MBC’s CEO Sam Barnett, speaking at Arabsat’s Customer Forum, in Oman, said bluntly that he could see no “Return on investment for 4K. I maintain it is a conspiracy by the engineers,” he told delegates to the event.

MBC also heard during the event that Saudi Arabia had issued a Royal decree forbidding MBC from encrypting its transmissions of the hugely popular Saudi League football, to which it has exclusive TV rights have beaten Qatar’s BeIN Sports at the 2014 auction when MBC paid a reported $1 billion for a 10-year deal to cover games.

Barnett admitted he had no idea that the Decree was coming, but told delegates that he was pragmatic in such situations and felt sure that there was a solution to the decision.